Package construction



PFARLEY PACKAGE CoNsTRuc'rroN Filediarch M i960 uw 26, mi y JNVENTOR.

Unite 3,014,638 PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION Preston Farley, 2328 LincolnwoodDrive, Evanston, Ill` Filed Mar. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 14,912 l 4 C-laims.(Cl. 229-62) States Patent O capable of inexpensively packaging a widevariety of articles, such as candy, metal fasteners, or thev like,fandat the same time provide a suitable addressing` label which'` is fusedto such bagfsection. Furthermore, such prior packages donot have thelabel affixed vto the bag section simultaneously withl thesealing ofthebag open end and forming a part of such seal but, instead, requireseparate steps which complicate fabrication of the package.` A furthershortcoming which` oftentimes besets such prior packages is theinability-of the package to withstand abusive handling and atv the sametime protect the accommodated articles against dirt and moisture. V

vThus, it is onev vof the objects of this invention vto provide apackage which is capable of providing protection forY its contentslagainst dirt and moisture, is strong, durable, attractive andlightweight in construction, and is suitable for sending through themails.

It is a further object of this inventionto` provide a 'package which hasa pliable thermoplastic bag section and an addressing label atixedthereto by. heat seal, whereby said label is ,reinforced by a portion ofsuch bag section.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a method` offorming a package suitable v'for mailing and ."having a pliablethermoplasticbag section and an addressing label whereby the latterforms a part of the heat seal applied `to effect closing tion. t

It is a still furtherA object of this invention to provide apackagewhich is' easy to handle, is, capable of withof the filling endofthe bag secstanding abusive treatment, may be vreadily grouped withother similar packages for bulk shipping or storage, is not subjecttodeterioration, and will not adversely affect the goods beingaccommodated.

Furtherand additional objects will appear from the description,accompanying drawing 'andappended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a'mailingpackage'is provided which comprises van articleaccommodating bag sectionformed of a pliable thermoplastic material and an addressing labelaxedto one end of said bag section. f The label is disposed instraddling relation with respect to the bag section filling endv and isprovided with segments which overlie the opposite surfaces of said bagsection adjacent said end. The label segments are `affixed to the bagsection surfaces by the application of heat which also effects aheat-seal for closing the bag section filling end. L

" For a more complete understanding of the invention,

` reference should be made to the drawing, wherein:

FIGUREA 1 is a perspective view of the improved Apackage ready formailing;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2'-2of FIG. 1; and .FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar tol FIG. l atreduced scale, but showing the bag section and label in explodedrelation prior to said label being affixed thereto.

Referring now to the drawings'and more particularly to FIG. .l, arpackage 10 is shown which is adapted Ifor accommodating one or morearticles which vary widely in size and shape (i.e., hard candy, powderedconfections,

3,014,638 Patented Dec. 26, 1961 ,metal fasteners, etc.). The package 10is of such construction that, if desired, it may be readily sent throughthe mails or it may be grouped with other similar packages forbulkshipping or storage.

As lshown in the drawings, 'package l1l) comprises a thermoplastic bagsection 12 and an addressing label 13y formed of fibrous material whichis adapted to be affixed to the upper, or vlilling,-end of the bagsection. The bag section 12 is preferablyformed from an extruded sleeveof pliable, relatively heavy-gauge thermoplastic material (i.e.,polyethylene), and is adapted to have vthe lower end 14 thereof closedby a heat seal to-form the bottom of the bag section. The upper edge 15of the bag section is initially open. as shown in dotted lines in FIG.3, to permit readyy lling'thereof with the desiredarticles 11 to bepackaged. The size and shape of the bag section may be readily variedfrom that shown and will be determined `'to a large extent bytheconfiguration of the article or segments 16 and 17, respectively, whichare adapted to partially overlie the exposed front and back surfaces ofthe bag section. Subsequentto the straddling of end 15 by label 13,portions 16a and 17a of the front and back label segments are clampedbetween a heating element which simultaneouslyv imparts a predeterminedhigh ternperature thereto which effects-,fusing of the label segments tothe bag section and fusing-of the abutting back and front side portionsof the bag section. Upon release of the heating element the upper end oflthe bag section is heat-seal closed.

It will be noted that the upper end of the bag section in theillustrated embodiment, extends to the fold-line of the label; however,if desired, the upper end may be foreshortened with respect thereto. Inthe illustrated embodiment the sandwiched upper end portion of the bagsection serves to reinforce the label, Furthermore, if desired, all -ofthe end portion of the `bag section straddled bythe label may be fusedthereto rather than just a portion thereof as shown. Theexposed-surfaces of the label segments 16 and 17 may be printed with anappealing greeting or various areas thereof, A, B, C, D, and E,delimited by printed lines. Such areas enable the sender to add apersonal greeting'to the package, as well as the address of therecipient and the proper postage.

`While the label is illustrated as being folded along its median lineand in straddling relation with the bag section, it is to be understood,of course, that the label could be varied in size and shape and fused toonly one surface of the bag section.-

While the bag section l2 has heretofore been described as beingpreferably formed from an extruded sleeve of polyethylene material, itsconstruction is not to be so limited, as it may be formed from a singlesheet of pliable thermoplastic material-having its opposite sides foldedso as to overlap one another and heat-sealed.

Once the upper and lower ends of the bag'section are closed by heatsealing, the contents thereof are protected from dirt andmoisture. Ifdesired, the bag section might be filled from the bottom edge 14, inwhich case the label would have been previously aixed to end 15.

. Thus, it will be seen that an improved Vmailing package has beenprovided which is of simple, durable and attractherefore, by theappended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of this invention.

I claim: Y

`1. A package suitable for mailing comprising a bag section Aformed of apliable thermoplastic material and provided withan upper open endportion for filling and adapted to be closed by heat sealing, saidheatseal being spaced from the top of said upper open, end portion, and

an addressing label overlying at least one face of said bag section openend between said heat seal and the top of said upper open end portionand being affixed thereto by the heat applied to said open end to effectheaty sealing.

thereof. v

2. A package suitable for mailing'comprising a bag i section formed of apliable thermoplastic material, said bag section having front and backsides interconnected along their side and bottom edge portions and theircorresponding upper edge portions -delimting an open end for filling,said open end being adapted to be closed by heat sealing the portions ofsaid front and back sides adjacent said open end, the latter'heat sealbeing spaced from the top'of said open end; and an addressing labeloverconnected to form closed side and lbottom portions and an open upperend portion for lling said bag section, said open upper end portionadapted to be closed by h eat scaling the portions of said front andback sides a distance spaced from the top of said upper end portion; andan addressing label folded over to effect str-addling of said bagsection upper end portion and the heat sealed part thereof, said labelhaving segments thereof sandwiching therebetween the portions of saidfront and back sides intermediate the top of said upper end portion andsaid heat sealed part thereof, said label segments being affixed' byheat sealing to said bag section front and back sides by the heatapplied to effect closing of said upper end portion.

r4. A method-of forming a package suitable for mailing from a sleeve ofpliableA thermoplastic material open at opposite ends, applyingheat toone end of said cylinder to effect a heat seal and closing thereof andeffecting formation of a bag with an opening for filling at the secondend, closing said second end subsequent toV filling of said bag bybringing opposite surface portions delimiting said v opening intoface-to-'face contact, placing a foldable addressing llabel instraddling relation with said closed secondend, with segments of saidlabel overlying opposite exposed surface portions of said `bag adjacentsaid second end whereby said opposite surface portions of said bag aresandwiched between said label segments, and applying heat to the endlimits of said label segments whereby said label segment end limits arefused to` the overlain bag -portions and the latter are fused togetherat a distance spaced from the fold of said label andthe second end ofsaid bag section.

lying the portion of at least said front side between the top ofsaidopen end and the heat seal effecting closing of said open end, saidlabel being affixed thereto by the heat vapplied to said front and backsides to effect heat sealing of said open end.

3. A package suitable for mailing comprising a bag section formed of apliable thermoplastic material, said bag section having front and backsides peripherally inter- References Cited in the file of this patent iUNiTED STATES PATENTS 1,603,207 Huston oer. 12, 1926 2,146,308 MaxaeidFeb. 7, 1939 v2,488,212 Lloyd Nov. 1s, 1949 2,620,120 Andersen Dec. 2,1952

